Vertical conveyor

ABSTRACT

An endless vertical conveyor having a vertical reach, carriers mounted on the conveyor at longitudinally spaced points including a base and an article support mounted on each said base and movable transversely such that it can be positioned adjacent a loading or unloading station as the conveyor moves vertically. Each article support includes a cam that is engaged by an actuator selectively to move the article support transversely such that it will be adjacent the loading or unloading station. Guide means are provided for engaging a roller on the article support and guiding the article support to and from the station as the conveyor moves vertically.

United States Patent [191 Wallis [451 Jan. 22, 1974 VERTICAL CONVEYOR[75] Inventor: Charles W. Wallis, Cary, 11].

[73] Assignee: American Chain & Cable Company,

Inc., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: July 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 273,520

[52] U.S. Cl. 198/158, 198/38 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch 198/154-158, 38

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,366,224 l/l968 Sauvee198/158 3,184,032 5/1965 Jonsson 198/156 Primary Examiner-Richard E.Aegerter Attorney, Agent, or FirmArthur Raisch et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An endless vertical conveyor having a vertical reach,carriers mounted on the conveyor at longitudinally spaced pointsincluding a base and an article support mounted on each said base andmovable transversely such that it can be positioned adjacent a loadingor unloading station as the conveyor moves vertically. Each articlesupport includes a cam that is engaged by an actuator selectively tomove the article support transversely such that it will be adjacent theloading or unloading station. Guide means are provided for engaging aroller on the article support and guiding the article support to andfrom the station as the conveyor moves vertically.

16 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JAN 2 2 I974 SHEET 1 HF g;

' PMENTEB JAN 2 21974 FIG. 6

VERTICAL CONVEYOR This invention relates to vertical conveyors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In moving articles from one verticalelevation to another, it has heretofore been suggested to use acontinuously moving conveyor having carriers at longitudinally spacedpoints which are projected transversely to the loading or unloadingstation as the conveyor moves vertically. The carrier supports the loadin such a manner that the load is picked up or delivered to the stationwithout interrupting the movement of the conveyor.

In such conveyor systems, it has been common to provide guide tracks forthe carrier and these tracks normally extend throughout the entirevertical path of the carrier.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a conveyor of thevertical type wherein the construction is relatively simple, which isreliable, low in cost, can be easily adapted to vertical conveyors andwhich necessitates only guiding of the article support or carrier duringloading or unloading, and on which carriers can be provided in closevertical spacing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, the endlessvertical conveyor has a vertical reach. Carriers are mounted on theconveyor at longitudinally spaced points and include a base and anarticle support mounted on each said base and movable transversely suchthat it can be positioned adjacent a loading or unloading station as theconveyor moves vertically. Each article support includes a cam that isengaged by an actuator selectively to move the article supporttransversely such that it will be adjacent the loading or unloadingstation. Guide means are provided for engaging and guiding the articlesupport to and from the station as the conveyor moves vertically.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical elevationalview of a portion of the conveyor system taken along the line 11 in FIG.3.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of another portion ofthe system taken along th line 22 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along the line4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of one form of the conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of another form of the conveyor.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of theconveyor.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the conveyor shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of a portion of the conveyor system.

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the portion shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary end view of a modified form of actuatorutilized in the apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary part sectional view of the apparatus shown inFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of a portion of amodified conveyor.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 4, the vertical conveyor embodying theinvention comprises an endless chain conveyor 20 that is trained over asprocket 21 which has its axis extending horizontally and is driventhrough a chain 22 by a sprocket 23 of a motor 24. The endless chain 20thus has two vertical reaches and a plurality of carriers 25 areprovided at longitudinally spaced points thereon. One or more loading anunloading stations are provided in pairs at various elevations adjacenteach reach, one station being a delivery station and the other being aloading station. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the station A on the right isadapted to be the unloading station wherein the carriers 25 remove aload from the station A and the station B on the left is adapted to bethe loading station wherein the carriers 25 deliver a load to theadjacent station B as the conveyor moves vertically downwardly relativethereto. Although only two stations are shown, a plurality of verticallyspaced loading and unloading stations can be provided.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, each carrier 25 includes a base 26 comprising abase plate 27 mounted on the conveyor chain 20 and having guides 28thereon defining grooves 29 into which guide plate 30 on framework 31extend. In this manner, the base 26 is guided and maintained in stablerelation as the conveyor moves vertically. The guide plates 30 arerelieved at their upper ends adjacent the sprocket as at 32 to permitthe movement of the base 26 laterally into engagement with the guideplates 30 on the other side.

The base 26 further includes a pair of stationary arms 33 fixed to theplate 27. The carrier 25 also includes an article support 35 that ismounted for transverse movement with respect to the arms 33 by bearings35b. Article support 35 includes generally horizontal arms 35a. Asshown, the arms 33 are inclined with respect to the horizontal such thatthe article support 35 moves upwardly and forwardly. In its normalposition, the article support 35 is retracted but, as presentlydescribed, may be moved transversely outwardly into position such thatit overlies or underlies the loading or loading station.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, at the unloading station, two spaced rows ofrollers 36 are provided on which the article to be unloaded is deliveredas the carrier moves downwardly, the arms 35a of the article support 35straddling the rollers 36. Similarly, at the loading station, rollers 37are provided in two rows and the arms 35a of the article support 35straddle and pass upwardly to remove a load from the rollers 37. Asshown in FIG. 1, at the unloading station, the rollers 36 are in a planethat is inclined downwardly and outwardly while at the loading station,the rollers define a plane that is inclined downwardly and inwardly.

Each carrier 25 includes a cam 40 on the side wall of the articlesupport 35. Each cam 40 has upwardly and downwardly facing cam surfaces41, 42 which are concave in vertical section and straight in horizontalsection. In its-normal position, the article support 35 is maintained inits retracted position by the inclined support on the base 26. Inadvance of loading and unloadingg stations, actuator means 45, 46 isprovided which includes levers 47, 48, respectively, that are normallyyieldingly in the path of each cam 40. If there is to be no delivery orpick-up, that is, no loading or unloading, the levers 47, 48 are merelyswung out of their normal position by the cam 40 and then return totheir normal position. If, however, upon suitable signal received fromsettings on the carrier, or other device, the carrier is to be loaded orunloaded, the levers 47 or 48, as the case may be, are locked in theirpositions such that they will force the cam 40 and, in turn, the carrieror article support outwardly so that a roller 55 on cam 40 is projectedinto the path of a guide track 49. As the conveyor continues to movevertically, the article support is gradually moved transversely by guidetrack 49 to a position where it is in telescoping relation to theloading or unloading station, as the case may be. Each guide track 49 isgenerally U-shaped in cross section and includes an inclined portion 50which guides the article support to the station, a vertical portion 51which holds the article support in proper position as it is movedvertically through the station, and an inclined portion 52 which returnsthe the article support to its retracted position.

The specific nature of the actuator mechanisms 45 is shown in FIGS. and11 wherein the levers 48 are mounted on the ends of a shaft 53 that ispivoted and a counterweight 56 yieldingly urges the lever 48 upwardly. Arotary solenoid 54 actuated an arm 57 into the path ofa lateral arm 58fixed to the shaft 53 to lock the lever 48 between a fixed stop 59 andarm 57 to prevent its rotation when the cam 40 engages the lever 48. Themechanism 45 at the loading station is substantially identical to thatshown in FIGS. 10 and 11 except that there is no counterweight needed.

A modified form of actuating mechanism is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13wherein the rotary electric motor 60 functions to project a pivotedlatch 61 into position for engagement with a projection 62 on the shaft53'.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, in operation, as the conveyor iscontinuously operated, if an appropriate signal is provided by thesignal system, actuator lever 47 will be locked in position and ascarrier moves upwardly, the lever 47 will engage the surface 41 of thecam 40 to move the article support 35 transversely into the guide track49 (FIG. 2). As the conveyor continues to move, the article support 35is moved transversely away from the plane of the conveyor 20 and broughtinto position so that the legs of the article support 35 will passupwardly and engage and remove a load from the rollers 37 at the loadingstation. Further movement of the conveyor will cause guide track 49 toreturn the article support 35 to its original position with respect tothe base 36, after which it is released from control by the guide track49.

In the event that a signal is received to unload, the lever 48 along theother reach of the conveyor is locked in position causing it to engagethe surface 42 of the cam 40 and move the article support 35transversely outwardly into the path of the guide track 49 (FIG. 1).Further movement of the conveyor will cause the article support 35 to betranslated outwardly by the section 52 so that when it reaches aposition adjacent the rollers 36, the article support 35 thereon will betransferred to the rollers 36. Further movement of the conveyor 20 willcause the article support 35 to be returned to its original positionwith respect to the base 26 whereupon control of the article support bythe guide track 49 will cease.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 14 and diagrammatically inFIG. 6, the endless conveyor 65 is trained over sprockets such that theplane of the conveyor is parallel to the direction in which the articlesupport is to be moved laterally for loading or unloading. In all otherrespects, the structure is identical. In this form, the conveyor isoperated in opposite directions to move the carriers vertically and onlythe front reach 65a is utilized.

In operation of the conveyor shown in FIG. 14, any station may functionas a loading or unloading station since the reach 65a is reciprocatedvertically. Thus, in the position shown in FIG. 14 wherein the carrier25 is at the lower end of the conveyor, if there is no load, then theactuator lever 66 is locked in position causing the cam 40 to engage thelever 66 and be moved transversely and, in turn, move article support 35to a position wherein the roller 55 thereon engages the guide track 49'.Further movement of the conveyor will bring the article support 35 intoposition past the loading station to pick up a load thereon. Afterpicking up the load, further continuous movement of the conveyor willbring the article support 35 to its original position with respect tothe base of the conveyor. Spring-loaded levers function at each end ofthe guide track 49 to insure passage of the roller 55 to its originalposition.

If the carrier 25 is at the upper end of its travel and it is desired tounload any article therefrom, lever 67 is locked and thereby engages thecam to move the article support transversely to be guided by the guidetrack 49' to the station for unloading.

As shown in FIG. 14, the loading and unloading station comprises tworows of rollers 67 that are inclined outwardly with respect to thehorizontal. Thus, any load thereon tends to move away from the conveyor.A stop 68 controlled by a piston 69 will hold any load in position forloading onto the conveyor but may be actuated to release any loaddelivered thereto so that the load will pass on to another conveyor orhorizontally to a table.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising a conveyor having a vertical reach,

at least one station along the length of said vertical reach,

a carrier comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an articlesupport on said base,

means for mounting said article support on said base for movement in adirection transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor tomove the article support adjacent said station, said means being suchthat said article support is urged toward said conveyor,

a cam on said article support,

selectively actuatable actuator means adjacent said station for engagingsaid cam to project said article support transversely of said base,

guide follower means on said article support,

and fixed guide means for engaging said follower means when said articlesupport is projected for guiding said support to move said articlesupport transversely relative to the base as the conveyor moves in avertical direction such that the article support is adjacent the stationwhen the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and to move thearticle support to its retracted position after passing said station,

said cam and guide follower being unrestrained during the normalmovement of said article support by said conveyor in advance of andbeyond said station.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator meanscomprises a member normally yieldingly urged into the path of said cam,

and means for locking said member against said yielding movement tothereby forcibly be engaged by said cam and move said article supporttransversely.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said cam has verticallyspaced actuator engaging surfaces adapted to be engaged by said member.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide followercomprises a roller on each said cam,

said guide means comprising a fixed track which is engaged by saidrollers to move the article support transversely to a position adjacentsaid station and thereafter return said article support to its retractedposition relative to said base.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprisesan endless chain,

at least one sprocket over which said chain is trained,

the plane of said chain being at a right angle to the transversemovement of said article support with respect to said base.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 including an additional stationadjacent another vertical reach of said conveyor and substantiallyidentical actuator means and guide means at said station.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprisesan endless chain trained over sprockets,

the plane of said chain being parallel to the direction of transversemovement of said article support relative to said base.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator meanscomprises a lever in the normal path of said cam,

said lever being normally moved out ofits normal position by movement ofsaid cam vertically as the conveyor carries the base and article supportvertically.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator meanscomprises a lever pivoted for movement and normally being in the path ofsaid cam such that it is moved by said cam and is returned to the pathof said cam,

and means for engaging said lever to prevent rotation thereof such thatthe cam will be engaged by said lever and will be forced to move thearticle support transversely of said base.

10. The combination comprising a conveyor having two vertical reaches,

at least one station along each reach of said conveyor such that as theconveyor is moved, one said station functions as a loading station andthe other as an unloading station,

a plurality of carriers comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and anarticle support on said base, means for mounting said article support onsaid base for movement in a direction transversely to the direction ofmovement of said conveyor to move the article support adjacent saidstation, said means being such that said article support is urged towardsaid conveyor,

said conveyor comprising an endless chain,

at least one sprocket over which said chain is trained,

the plane of said chain being at a right angle to the transversemovement of said article support with respect to said base,

a cam on each said support,

selectively actuable actuator means adjacent each said station forengaging said cam to project said article support transversely of saidbase,

guide follower means on said article support,

and fixed guide means for engaging said follower means when said articlesupport is projected for guiding said support to move said articlesupport transversely relative to said base as the conveyor moves in avertical direction such that the article support is adjacent the stationwhen the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and to move thearticle support to its retracted position after passing said station,

said cam and guide follower being unrestrained during the normalmovement of said article support by said conveyor in advance of andbeyond said station.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein each said actuatormeans comprises a member yieldingly urged into the path of said cam,

and means for locking said member against said yielding movement tothereby forcibly be engaged by said cam and move said article supporttransversely.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said cam hasvertically spaced actuator engaging surfaces adapted to be engaged bysaid member.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said guide followercomprises a roller on each said cam,

said guide means comprising a fixed track which is engaged by saidrollers to move the article support transversely to a position adjacentsaid station and thereafter return said article support to its retractedposition relative to said base.

14. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said actuator meanscomprises a lever in the normal path of said cam,

said lever being normally moved out to its normal position by movementof said cam vertically as the conveyor carries the base and articlesupport vertically.

15. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said actuator meanscomprises a lever pivoted for movement and normally being in the path ofsaid cam such that it is moved by said cam and is returned to the pathof said cam,

and means for engaging said lever to prevent rotation thereof such thatthe cam will be engaged by said lever and will be forced to move thearticle support transversely of said base.

16. The combination comprising a conveyor having a vertical reach,

at least one station along the length of said vertical reach,

a carrier comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an articlesupport on said base,

means for mounting said article support on said base for movement in adirection transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor tomove the the base adjacent said station and to move the article supportto its retracted position after passing said station, and selectivelyactuable actuator means adjacent said station independent of said guidemeans operable to engage the article support and project said articlesupport transversely of the base into alignment with the guide means.

1. The combination comprising a conveyor having a vertical reach, atleast one station along the length of said vertical reach, a carriercomprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article support on saidbase, means for mounting said article support on said base for movementin a direction transversely to the direction of movement of saidconveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, said meansbeing such that said article support is urged toward said conveyor, acam on said article support, selectively actuatable actuator meansadjacent said station for engaging said cam to project said articlesupport transversely of said base, guide follower means on said articlesupport, and fixed guide means for engaging said follower means whensaid article support is projected for guiding said support to move saidarticle support transversely relative to the base as the conveyor movesin a vertical direction such that the article support is adjacent thestation when the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and tomove the article support to its retracted position after passing saidstation, said cam and guide follower being unrestrained during thenormal movement of said article support by said conveyor in advance ofand beyond said station.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid actuator means comprises a member normally yieldingly urged intothe path of said cam, and means for locking said member against saidyielding movement to thereby forcibly be engaged by said cam and movesaid article support transversely.
 3. The combination set forth in claim2 wherein said cam has vertically spaced actuator engaging surfacesadapted to be engaged by said member.
 4. The combination set forth inclaim 2 wherein said guide follower comprises a roller on each said cam,said guide means comprising a fixed track which is engaged by saidrollers to move the article support transversely to a position adjacentsaid station and thereafter return said article support to its retractedposition relative to said base.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 1wherein said conveyor comprises an endless chain, at least one sprocketover which said chain is trained, the plane of said chain being at aright angle to the transverse movement of said article support withrespect to said base.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 includingan additional station adjacent another vertical reach of said conveyorand substantially identical actuator means and guide means at saidstation.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyorcomprises an endless chain trained over sprockets, the plane of saidchain being parallel to the direction of transverse movement of saidarticle supPort relative to said base.
 8. The combination set forth inclaim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a lever in the normal pathof said cam, said lever being normally moved out of its normal positionby movement of said cam vertically as the conveyor carries the base andarticle support vertically.
 9. The combination set forth in claim 1wherein said actuator means comprises a lever pivoted for movement andnormally being in the path of said cam such that it is moved by said camand is returned to the path of said cam, and means for engaging saidlever to prevent rotation thereof such that the cam will be engaged bysaid lever and will be forced to move the article support transverselyof said base.
 10. The combination comprising a conveyor having twovertical reaches, at least one station along each reach of said conveyorsuch that as the conveyor is moved, one said station functions as aloading station and the other as an unloading station, a plurality ofcarriers comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article supporton said base, means for mounting said article support on said base formovement in a direction transversely to the direction of movement ofsaid conveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, saidmeans being such that said article support is urged toward saidconveyor, said conveyor comprising an endless chain, at least onesprocket over which said chain is trained, the plane of said chain beingat a right angle to the transverse movement of said article support withrespect to said base, a cam on each said support, selectively actuableactuator means adjacent each said station for engaging said cam toproject said article support transversely of said base, guide followermeans on said article support, and fixed guide means for engaging saidfollower means when said article support is projected for guiding saidsupport to move said article support transversely relative to said baseas the conveyor moves in a vertical direction such that the articlesupport is adjacent the station when the conveyor moves the baseadjacent said station and to move the article support to its retractedposition after passing said station, said cam and guide follower beingunrestrained during the normal movement of said article support by saidconveyor in advance of and beyond said station.
 11. The combination setforth in claim 10 wherein each said actuator means comprises a memberyieldingly urged into the path of said cam, and means for locking saidmember against said yielding movement to thereby forcibly be engaged bysaid cam and move said article support transversely.
 12. The combinationset forth in claim 11 wherein said cam has vertically spaced actuatorengaging surfaces adapted to be engaged by said member.
 13. Thecombination set forth in claim 11 wherein said guide follower comprisesa roller on each said cam, said guide means comprising a fixed trackwhich is engaged by said rollers to move the article supporttransversely to a position adjacent said station and thereafter returnsaid article support to its retracted position relative to said base.14. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said actuator meanscomprises a lever in the normal path of said cam, said lever beingnormally moved out to its normal position by movement of said camvertically as the conveyor carries the base and article supportvertically.
 15. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein saidactuator means comprises a lever pivoted for movement and normally beingin the path of said cam such that it is moved by said cam and isreturned to the path of said cam, and means for engaging said lever toprevent rotation thereof such that the cam will be engaged by said leverand will be forced to move the article support transversely of saidbase.
 16. The combination comprising a conveyor having a vertical reach,at least one staTion along the length of said vertical reach, a carriercomprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article support on saidbase, means for mounting said article support on said base for movementin a direction transversely to the direction of movement of saidconveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, said meansbeing such that said article support is urged toward said conveyor,guide follower means on said article support, fixed guide means forengaging said follower means when said article support is projected forguiding said support to move said article support transversely relativeto the base as the conveyor moves in a vertical direction such that thearticle support is adjacent the station when the conveyor moves the baseadjacent said station and to move the article support to its retractedposition after passing said station, and selectively actuable actuatormeans adjacent said station independent of said guide means operable toengage the article support and project said article support transverselyof the base into alignment with the guide means.